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Stars Trade for Kari Lehtonen

by
Dallas Stars Staff
/ Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced late Tuesday evening that the hockey club has acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and Dallas’ fourth round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Lehtonen, 26, is an NHL veteran goaltender who has played his entire career with Atlanta. He was the second overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Thrashers. Lehtonen has appeared in 204 career NHL games, earning a 94-83-17 record with a 2.87 goals-against-average (GAA) and 14 shutouts. His career save percentage of 91.2 percent ranks 16th among the 44 active goalies with 100-or-more games played.

“Kari Lehtonen is a proven elite goaltender,” said Nieuwendyk. “We are very excited to add him to our hockey club.”

A native of Helsinki, Finland, Lehtonen has not played yet this season due to off-season back surgery. He recently underwent a four-game conditioning assignment with the Chicago Wolves and has been activated to play.

"He was picked second overall for a reason," said Nieuwendyk. "When healthy, he is a world-class goaltender. He is 26, and is entering the prime of his career.”

Lehtonen has an impressive record in shootout contests, having gone 20-8 in those games over his career (the 20 wins are tied for the fifth-most all-time despite not playing at all yet this season). He has also stopped seven-of-eight penalty shots in his career.

Finishing last season with a 7-2-0 record in his last nine starts with two shutouts, Lehtonen is Atlanta’s all-time leader among goaltenders in games (204), wins (94), shutouts (14), and save percentage (.912). He has represented Finland in international competition 11 times, including winning a Silver Medal at the 2007 World Championships.

Vishnevskiy, 21, has spent most of this season with the Texas Stars (AHL), playing in 51 games (8 goals, 16 assists) with 18 penalty minutes. He also appeared in two NHL games with Dallas, going scoreless. Vishnevskiy was Dallas’ first round selection (27th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in five career NHL games, earning two assists.